Insulator for third rails.



E. M. WEAVER. INSULATOR THIBD RAILS. APPLICATION L D SEPT. 10, 1908.

932,523. Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

EUGENE M2 WEAVER, F OZONE PARK,- NEW YORK.

INSULATOR FOR THIRD RAILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

Application filed. September 10, 1908. Serial No. 452,431.

To all whom it may concern: U

Be it known that I, EUGENE M. WEAVER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Ozone Park, county of Queens, State ofthelcoustruction of such an insulator in genera 1 Further objects are todistribute the crushing effect of a'third rail over a comparativelylarge supporting area of the insulator having a dielectric strengthsufficient to res1st puncture and provide against surface le: l'age overthe insulator to the support.

The invention. also contemplates a generally improved structurecomprising the third rail insulator" proper, its standard and itscooperating rail seat.

The above and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims when read in connection with k theaccompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which-Fi ure 1 is a top plan view of the combine mechanlsm; Fig. 2 is avcross-section through the parts shown in Fig. l and showing a thirdrail in position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of theparts shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is cross-sectional view showing amodification.

Referring now more in detail tothe drawings: 1 indicates the supportinbase or standard which may be formed of any suit- ,able material as forinstance cast iron, and

may-' be provided with suitable bosses 2,

- pierced for the reception of lagscrews 3, se-

curing the base 1 to a tie 4. These bosses may be positioned so that thelag screws 3' are driven straight into the tie 4,- as shown in Fig. 2,or so that they are driven in at an angle, as shown in Fig. 4.

The standard 1 provides a fiat ring shaped seat 5 which overhangs thelower portion of the standard and it has a depressed or counfer-sunkflat portion 6- within the ring shaped seat It is, of course, to beunderstood that the ring-shaped seat 5 need not necessarily be acircular ring-shaped seat as a variation in its contour is permissible.

1 An insulating member 7 of porcelain or other suitable insulatingmaterial is shaped to seat upon the faces 5 and 6 of the base 1, theunderneath circular face 8 resting upon the face 5 and the downwardprojection 9 fitting in over the countersunk seat 6. An opening 10 maybe provided as shown, through which cement may be applied to fill in thespace between the surface 9 of the insulating section and the surface 6and cement the insulating section to the base 1. The top surface of theinsulating section 7 may be finished 01f flat and circular as indicatedby the straight line 11. The portion of the insulating section betweenthe surface 11. and the surface 8 is made of a suflicient thickness toresist direct puncture according to the potential ,of the current to becarried by. the third rail 12. 1

The insulator 7 is provided with a depending petticoat 1'3 and may havea plurality of interior petticoats 1 1 and 15. The petticoats aredesigned so as to present sufficient insulating surface to preventsurface leakage over the insulating section to the metallic base 1. Thedistance from the lower edge of the petticoat 13 to the tie 1 or to thenearest point of the base 1 is proportioned so as to present asufiicient air gap to prevent arcing from a wet petticoat to the. tie orbase.

To this end, it is contemplated as an advantage to concavely curve thebase 1 as indicated.

A seat plate 16' ofgeneral circular contour 'is provided to fit over theinsulating section 7 as a. cap. A lurality of ears 17 project downwardlyand take over the side of the insulatin section to hold the cap againstlateral isplac'ement. Diametrically positioned upstanding cars 18 areprovided to extend across the flanges of the third rail and hold thethird rail from lateral displacement as will be understood.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the cap 18 may be'made ofmetal such as cast steel, and has downwardly projecting ears 17.However, if desired, the cap may be in the form shown in Fig. 4 anddesignated by 16, in whic embodiment the ears 17 have been substitute bya continuous downwardly projecting flange 17 In this embodiment the cap16 may be made of soft metal or of any metal suitable for that the cap16 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may be,

made of softer metal than steel and-in fact of any material suitable forthe purpose, and which will distribute itself over the surface of theinsulating section 7 to insure an even seat for the third rail.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 a portion of the supporting base 1 hasbeen broken away and it is to be understood that this base may be of anydesired height to suit the conditions which ma arise.

It should also; be understood that many variations from the exactembodiments illustrated are contemplated in accordance with theaccompanying claims.

What is claimed and what is desired to be secured by United StatesLetters Patent is:

1. An insulator for third rails comprising,

- a metallic standard having a flat ring shaped seat at its top andextending outwardly to overhang the. lower portion of the standard, saidstandard also having a fiat portion Within and depressed below said ringshaped seat; and an inverted cup shaped insulating member having anlnterior ring shaped seat-- ing face and a downwardly projecting portionwithin said ring shaped face.

2. An insulator for third rails comprising a metallic standard having aflat ring shaped seat at its top and extending'outward'ly to overhangthe lower portion of the standard,

said standard also having a flat circular poreeaeee tion withinanddepressedbelow said ring' shapedseat; and an inverted cup shapedinsulating member having an interior ring shaped seating face and adownwardly pro jecting circular portion within said ring shaped face,said insulatin member having an outwardly flared depen ing flangeforming a fitticoat portion.

3. insulator for third rails comprising, a metallic standard having'afiat ring shaped seat at its top and extending outwardly to overhang thelower portion of the standard, said standard also having a flat circularportion within'and depressedbelow said ring shaped seat; and an invertedcup shaped insulating member having an interior ring I shaped seatingface and a downwardly projecting circular portion Within said ringshaped face, said insulatin member. having an outwardly flared dependingflange forming a petticoat portion and also having one or more interiorpetticoat portions formed on I said flange.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EUGENE M. WEAVER. "Witnesses:

FRANKLIN W. WARD, LEONARD DAY;

